Best Wood Filler for Screw Holes in Trim and Furniture

The best wood filler for screw holes is the Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler, a 6 oz tube of paintable, stainable putty the maker rates as water resistant for indoor or outdoor use. If the screw hole is stripped and still has to hold weight, switch to J-B Weld KwikWood, a two-part epoxy stick rated at 900 PSI lap shear. Here's the price-band map: entry tubs cover cosmetic holes, mid-range putties handle mixed repairs, and epoxy sticks rebuild wood you can drill and screw into again.

Best wood filler for screw holes at a glance

Filler or epoxy: which one holds a screw?

Here's the trick with screw holes. Not all of them need the same product, and the search that brought you here treats them all as one job. They aren't.

A cosmetic hole is one where the screw is gone and you just want the surface smooth for paint or stain. Any of the seven picks handles that. A structural hole is different. The screw stripped out, the wood crumbled, and you need something you can drill and drive a screw back into. That second job is where most spreadable putties disappoint, because they're built to fill, not to grip.

Two of these picks are made for the harder job:

• J-B Weld KwikWood is a two-part epoxy the maker rates at 900 PSI lap shear, and the listing says it can be drilled, tapped and shaped once cured.
• Gorilla's putty claims it "anchors nails and screws," which is a filler-grade hold, not an epoxy-grade one.

The plain truth: for a hole you'll screw into again, epoxy wins. For a hole you'll paint over, a good spreadable putty is faster and easier. Match the product to which hole you actually have.

1. Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler — Best overall

Gorilla's 6 oz tube is the pick I'd reach for first because it balances easy spreading, water resistance and a paintable, stainable finish in one tube.

Best for: general trim and furniture screw-hole repairs, indoor or outdoor Skip it if: you need to re-anchor a stripped screw that must hold weight

The best wood filler for screw holes in most homes isn't the strongest one, it's the most versatile. This 6.08 oz tube in a natural color sits mid-pack on price here, and it's the fourth-cheapest of the seven. Gorilla says the formula is water resistant, doesn't shrink or crack, and works indoors or outdoors. That single claim covers a lot of ground: exterior deck screws and interior cabinet holes from the same tube.

The listing also says it "anchors nails and screws," which is the line that matters for this category. That's a filler-grade hold, useful for a screw that isn't carrying much load. It's paintable, stainable and sandable per Gorilla, so you can blend the repair into finished wood.

At 6.8 x 1.7 x 2.8 in, the tube is easy to squeeze into a hole without a putty knife. The trade-off against the KwikWood stick: this is filler, not epoxy, so it won't rebuild a badly stripped hole you plan to drive a fresh screw into.

Pros:

• Water resistant per Gorilla, rated indoor or outdoor
• Paintable, stainable and sandable claim
• Squeeze tube fills holes without extra tools
• Maker says it doesn't shrink or crack

Cons:

• Filler-grade hold, not epoxy strength
• Smaller 6.08 oz size for big jobs
• Only two sellers list it

2. J-B Weld Tan KwikWood Wood Repair Epoxy Putty — Best minimal setup

KwikWood is the one pick here that genuinely rebuilds a stripped screw hole, thanks to a two-part epoxy the maker rates at 900 PSI lap shear.

Best for: re-anchoring stripped screws in load-bearing spots Skip it if: you want to smear filler quickly without mixing

This is the odd one out, and that's the point. Every other pick is a ready-to-use putty. KwikWood is a 28 g hand-mixable stick: you cut off a piece, knead the two parts together, and press it in. J-B Weld says it sets in 15 to 25 minutes and cures in an hour, with a light tan final color.

The number that separates it from the field is 900 PSI lap shear strength. The listing says the cured putty can be stained, molded, tapped, drilled, sanded and shaped. That's the full recipe for re-anchoring a screw: fill the ruined hole, let it cure, drill a pilot, drive a new screw into solid material. No other pick here promises drilling and tapping.

It's the second-cheapest of the seven, which is a surprise for the most capable one. The catch is setup. You mix by hand, you have a working window, and one 28 g stick doesn't go far across many holes. For one crucial repair, though, nothing else here competes.

Pros:

• 900 PSI lap shear strength claim
• Can be drilled, tapped and shaped per J-B Weld
• Sets in 15 to 25 minutes, cures in 1 hour
• Second-cheapest pick of the seven

Cons:

• Requires hand mixing before use
• Small 28 g stick covers few holes
• Short working window once mixed
• Set color is a fixed light tan

3. DAP Plastic Wood-X with DryDex Wood Filler — Best budget pick

The DryDex color-change indicator makes this 5.5 oz filler the easiest pick for beginners to time correctly, and it's the cheapest of the seven.

Best for: beginners who want a dry-time indicator to avoid sanding too soon Skip it if: you need a filler rated for deep fills in one pass

DAP built one genuinely clever feature into this 5.5 oz filler. The DryDex indicator goes on pink and dries to natural, so you know when it's ready to sand without guessing. For a first-timer patching screw holes in trim, that removes the most common mistake: sanding a filler that's still soft underneath.

The listing describes a thick, knife-grade latex formula that can be molded and sculpted to fill any shape. DAP also says it can be planed, cut, drilled, screwed, nailed, sanded, stained and painted. That drilled-and-screwed claim matters for our purpose, though it's still a latex filler, not an epoxy.

One published figure to plan around: DAP says it dries in 3 to 6 hours for repairs up to 1/8 inch deep, and 36 hours for fills 1/4 inch and over. So a deep screw hole means a long wait or building up in layers. At 5.44 oz it's the lightest tub here. The trade-off against the pricier tubs is quantity, not capability.

Pros:

• Cheapest of the seven picks
• DryDex indicator shows when it's dry
• Knife-grade formula molds into any shape
• Stainable and paintable per DAP

Cons:

• Deep fills need 36 hours per the listing
• Latex filler, not epoxy-grade
• Small 5.5 oz size

4. Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler (16 oz Tub) — Best upgrade

This is the winning Gorilla formula in a 16 oz tub, the pick that makes sense when you have a project's worth of holes rather than a handful.

Best for: someone filling many holes across a big project Skip it if: you only have a handful of holes to patch

Same maker, same claims, much more of it. This 16 oz tub weighs 1 lb and carries the identical Gorilla promises: water resistant, doesn't shrink or crack, paintable, stainable, sandable, and it "anchors nails and screws." If you liked the winner but need volume, this is the direct step up. It's the one buyers reach for most across this whole set.

The tub format changes how you work. You dip a putty knife rather than squeeze a tube, which suits filling a row of holes on a deck or a run of trim. At 2.9 x 4.1 x 4.1 in it's compact for a pound of filler.

It sits in the upper price positions here, second-most expensive of the seven. That's the trade-off: you pay more up front for a lower cost per hole. For a single repair the 6 oz tube is smarter, because a tub of filler can skin over before you use it all. For a full afternoon of patching, the math flips toward the tub.

Pros:

• 16 oz tub covers a whole project
• Same water-resistant Gorilla formula
• Sells fastest of any pick here
• Knife-grade tub suits many holes at once

Cons:

• Second-most expensive pick here
• Overkill for one or two holes
• Filler-grade hold, not epoxy strength
• Open tub can skin over

5. DAP Plastic Wood All Purpose Latex Wood Filler — Runner-up

DAP's classic latex filler earns runner-up for a plain reason: the listing explicitly names strong nail and screw anchoring, and it's an entry-level price.

Best for: interior painted trim where you'll cover the filler Skip it if: you want a dry-time indicator or an exterior-rated formula

This white 6 oz filler is the no-frills member of the family. DAP lists three claims and no more: repairs cracks, gouges and holes; shrink and crack resistant; and strong nail and screw anchoring. That last line is exactly what a screw-hole search wants to hear, even if it's the maker's wording rather than a measured figure.

At 7.04 oz it's actually the heaviest tub in this group, and it's the third-cheapest pick. So you get a decent amount of filler for an entry price. The color is white, which is why I'd steer it toward painted work rather than stained wood, where the natural-tone picks blend better.

Why runner-up and not higher? It lacks the DryDex indicator of its sibling, and the listing doesn't claim exterior use the way Gorilla does. It's a straightforward interior patch. The trade-off against the winner is versatility: Gorilla goes outdoors and takes stain, this one is happiest under a coat of paint indoors.

Pros:

• Explicit strong nail and screw anchoring claim
• Third-cheapest pick here
• Heaviest tub in the group at 7.04 oz
• Shrink and crack resistant per DAP

Cons:

• White color suits paint, not stain
• No dry-time indicator
• Listing doesn't claim exterior use
• Fewer published details than rivals

6. Boncart Wood Filler (9.87 oz) — Best premium

Boncart bundles the extras: this 9.87 oz kit includes two scrapers and two sandpapers, so a beginner has the whole toolset in one box.

Best for: buyers who want scrapers and sandpaper bundled in Skip it if: you already own scrapers and just want the filler

This is the most expensive pick of the seven, and the reason is in the box. Boncart says the kit includes 280 g of putty, two scrapers and two sandpapers. If you don't already own a putty knife and abrasive, that bundle closes the gap, because a filler alone still needs tools to apply and finish.

The listing describes it as white putty for hardwood furniture, nail holes, dents and cracks, indoors or outdoors. Boncart also says the material is non-toxic and formaldehyde-free, which is worth knowing if you're working in a closed room. At 0.72 lb and 1.97 x 4.52 x 5.12 in, it's a substantial tub.

For screw holes specifically, the listing doesn't make an anchoring claim the way DAP and Gorilla do. It's pitched at cosmetic repairs: filling and smoothing. The trade-off against cheaper picks is clear. You pay the top price here mostly for the accessories, not for extra published performance on the actual filler.

Pros:

• Kit includes 2 scrapers and 2 sandpapers
• Largest putty amount here at 280 g
• Non-toxic, formaldehyde-free per Boncart
• Rated for indoor and outdoor wood

Cons:

• Most expensive pick of the seven
• No stated screw-anchoring claim
• You pay for tools you may own
• White color less suited to stain

7. Boncart Wood Filler (6.15 oz) — Best for pros

The smaller Boncart uses a squeeze-hose package the maker says lets you control the exact amount, which suits precise work over lots of tiny holes.

Best for: controlled dispensing from a squeeze package Skip it if: you want published weight and dimension figures before buying

This 6.15 oz white filler is the sibling without the accessory kit, and it leans on one idea: dispensing control. Boncart says the "convenient hose package" lets you control the amount of filler effectively. For dozens of small screw holes where you don't want to overfill and then sand for ages, controlled squeezing is a real advantage.

The listing calls it a high-performance filler that resists cracking and shrinking, with strong adhesion, suitable for hardwood, softwood and composite wood, indoors or outdoors. Those are the maker's claims, not measured results, and there's no screw-anchoring line here.

This is where the data gets thin. Boncart lists the size, the white color and the model, but no weight, no dimensions, no warranty. That's fewer published facts than any other pick, and it's why it lands last in my order despite a premium price. The trade-off is transparency: you're buying more on the maker's description and less on the spec sheet than with Gorilla or DAP. For controlled small fills, though, the squeeze pack is genuinely handy.

Pros:

• Squeeze package controls dispensed amount
• Rated for hardwood, softwood and composite
• Crack and shrink resistant per Boncart
• Indoor and outdoor use claim

Cons:

• No published weight or dimensions
• No screw-anchoring claim
• Premium price for limited spec data
• White color, less ideal for stain

How I screened these seven fillers

I worked from the published listing data for all seven products, lining up the specs side by side rather than testing anything. Three questions decided the ranking.

1. Does the listing claim it holds a screw? Gorilla, DAP Plastic Wood, and J-B Weld all address anchoring or drilling directly. That claim moved a product up.
2. How much can I plan around? Picks with published weight, dimensions and finish claims scored higher than picks with only a size and a model number. That's why the smaller Boncart lands last despite a premium price.
3. Does the form suit the hole? A squeeze tube suits one hole, a tub suits many, and an epoxy stick suits a stripped one. I matched each pick to the buyer whose hole it fits.

Nothing was cut for being bad. All seven sit in the same wood filler category, and each earns a place for a specific buyer. What separates them is transparency and the kind of hole they're built for, not a pass-fail line.

What the listings won't tell you about screw holes

Here's the honest caveat behind this whole guide. The search for the best wood filler for screw holes treats "screw hole" as one problem, but the listings rarely say which kind of hole they handle.

Two things the product data does not settle:

• Whether a filler will actually hold a fresh screw under load. Only J-B Weld publishes a strength figure, the 900 PSI lap shear number. The putties say "anchors screws" without a measurement, so you're trusting the maker's word.
• How deep a single fill can go. Only DAP Plastic Wood-X gives depth guidance: 1/8 inch in one pass, deeper fills need 36 hours. The others don't specify, so assume you build up deep holes in layers.

A definition worth keeping: a filler hides a hole, an epoxy rebuilds one. If a screw pulled clean out of soft or rotted wood, no amount of latex putty restores the grip. Drill it out, pack in epoxy, and re-drill. That's the one place where the cheapest capable pick, the KwikWood stick, beats every putty here.

How much do you actually need to buy?

Size is the quietest deciding factor in this set, and it's easy to get wrong. Buy too little and you re-order mid-project; buy too much and half the tub skins over.

The published sizes, smallest to largest:

• J-B Weld KwikWood — 28 g stick, enough for a few critical repairs
• DAP Plastic Wood-X — 5.5 oz, one drawer of trim holes
• DAP Plastic Wood — 6 oz, similar reach
• Gorilla tube — 6.08 oz, the everyday choice
• Boncart squeeze — 6.15 oz
• Boncart kit — 9.87 oz, plus scrapers and sandpaper
• Gorilla tub — 16 oz, a full weekend of holes

My rule of thumb: for under a dozen holes, a 6 oz size covers it with margin. For a whole room of trim or a deck, jump to the 16 oz Gorilla tub. For one stripped hinge screw, the KwikWood stick is all you need and the rest would go to waste. Match the container to the count.

When a different pick wins

The winner suits most people. These are the concrete cases where I'd steer you elsewhere.

• If the screw stripped out of load-bearing wood, buy the J-B Weld KwikWood. Its 900 PSI epoxy is the only pick here you can drill and re-tap.
• If you've never filled a hole before, buy the DAP Plastic Wood-X. The DryDex pink-to-natural indicator tells you exactly when to sand.
• If you're patching an entire project's worth of holes, buy the Gorilla 16 oz tub. Cost per hole drops and it's the same proven formula.
• If you want your tools in the box, buy the Boncart 9.87 oz kit with its two scrapers and two sandpapers.

Each flip turns on one condition you can check in seconds: is the hole structural, are you a beginner, how many holes, and do you own tools already. Answer those four and the pick chooses itself.

The verdict

The best wood filler for screw holes is the Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler in the 6 oz tube. It does the most jobs well: a water-resistant, no-shrink formula the maker says works indoors and outdoors, takes paint and stain, and anchors screws. For the everyday hole, in trim, furniture, cabinets, or exterior wood, one tube covers it, which is why it's my default.

Two conditions flip that choice. First, if the screw hole is stripped and structural, the J-B Weld KwikWood epoxy stick wins outright, because its 900 PSI cured putty can be drilled and re-tapped and no putty here matches that. Second, if you're a first-timer, the DAP Plastic Wood-X earns its place on the DryDex indicator alone, the pink-to-natural cue that stops you sanding too early.

The runner-up, DAP's classic latex filler, trails the winner for one specific reason: it's a white, interior-leaning patch with no dry-time indicator and no stated exterior rating, where the Gorilla goes outside and takes stain. Buy the Gorilla tube first, add a KwikWood stick for the one hole that has to hold, and you've covered both kinds of screw hole for less than a full-size premium tub.

FAQ

What is the best wood filler for screw holes overall?

The best wood filler for screw holes overall is the Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler in the 6.08 oz tube. Gorilla says it's water resistant, doesn't shrink or crack, and takes paint and stain, so one tube handles interior and exterior holes. For a stripped, load-bearing hole, switch to the J-B Weld KwikWood epoxy instead.

Is a wood filler worth it for screw holes, or should I use epoxy?

Whether a wood filler is worth it depends on the hole. For a cosmetic screw hole you'll paint or stain, a spreadable putty like Gorilla or DAP is faster and cheaper. For a stripped hole that must hold a screw under load, epoxy wins: J-B Weld KwikWood publishes a 900 PSI lap shear figure and can be drilled and re-tapped.

Can you drill and screw into DAP Plastic Wood-X after it dries?

You can drill and screw into DAP Plastic Wood-X once it's cured, according to DAP, which lists the formula as able to be planed, cut, drilled, screwed, nailed, sanded, stained and painted. Note the depth guidance: 3 to 6 hours for fills up to 1/8 inch, and 36 hours for fills 1/4 inch and deeper.

Gorilla tube or Gorilla 16 oz tub for screw holes?

Choose the Gorilla tube for a handful of screw holes and the 16 oz tub for a whole project. Both share the identical water-resistant, paintable formula. The 6.08 oz tube squeezes straight into a hole with no putty knife, while the 1 lb tub gives a lower cost per hole but can skin over if you leave it open.

What is the biggest mistake to avoid with filler in screw holes?

The biggest mistake to avoid is using cosmetic filler in a hole that must hold a screw. A latex putty hides the hole but won't grip a fresh screw in soft or stripped wood. Drill it out, pack in J-B Weld KwikWood epoxy, let it cure the stated hour, then drill a pilot and drive the screw.

Start by naming your hole. If it's cosmetic and you'll paint or stain over it, grab the Gorilla tube and you're done for almost any repair around the house, inside or out. If the screw pulled free of the wood entirely, add a J-B Weld KwikWood stick so you can rebuild and re-drill that one spot. The winner is the right default because it covers the widest range of holes from a single tube, without asking you to mix anything or wait a day and a half. Buy for the hole in front of you, not the label on the tube.

Last updated: October 4, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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